EVOLUTION OF EPILEPSY ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19 IN A TERTIARY PRIVATE HOSPITAL IN NORTHERN MEXICO AFTER THREE YEARS OF THE PANDEMIC

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Published May 26, 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v11i5.3855

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Main Article Content

Sofía Lucila Rodríguez Rivera
Pediatric Neurologist, Zambrano Hellion, TecSalud Hospital. Tecnológico de Monterrey
José Antonio Infante Cantú
Pediatric Neurologist, Zambrano Hellion, TecSalud Hospital. Tecnológico de Monterrey
Héctor R. Martínez
Neurologist, Zambrano Hellion, TecSalud Hospital. Tecnológico de Monterrey
Enrique Caro Osorio
Neurosurgery, Zambrano Hellion, TecSalud Hospital. Tecnológico de Monterrey

Abstract

Background: Apart from new-onset seizures due to acute illness, the impact of COVID-19 on patients with pre-existing epilepsy has been immense.


Aims: To study patients after three years of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to assess the prevalence of new-onset seizures resulting from COVID-19 infections, the prevalence of seizure exacerbations in people with epilepsy, and the evolution of epilepsy.


Methods: A descriptive, prospective, observational, and longitudinal study. Inclusion criteria were patients with epilepsy as a presenting symptom of COVID-19 confirmed with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for SARS-CoV2 by nasopharyngeal swab from March 2020-July 2021 in a tertiary private hospital. Study variables were age, gender, type, and evolution of epilepsy. It was classified into three groups: acute symptomatic seizures, the onset of epilepsy, and uncontrolled epilepsy. Information was captured in Excel and analyzed in SPSS.


Results: Of 203,987 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 in Nuevo León until July 2021, 10 patients (0.004%) were included with seizures. Two patients had acute symptomatic seizures (20%), four patients had new-onset seizures (40%) and four patients (40%) had uncontrolled epilepsy with an average epilepsy evolution time of 15.75 years.  Focal seizures were predominant in 63%. After three years of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2023, 75% of patients continued with uncontrolled epilepsy with the use of the antiseizure drug.


Conclusion: Our study shows that there is evidence of the susceptibility of people with COVID-19 to present acute symptomatic seizures, new-onset seizures, and uncontrolled epilepsy, with an unfavorable course of epilepsy continuing with uncontrolled seizures and use of anti-seizure drugs, which agrees with what is reported in the literature.

Keywords: seizures, epilepsy, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2

Article Details

How to Cite
RODRÍGUEZ RIVERA, Sofía Lucila et al. EVOLUTION OF EPILEPSY ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19 IN A TERTIARY PRIVATE HOSPITAL IN NORTHERN MEXICO AFTER THREE YEARS OF THE PANDEMIC. Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 11, n. 5, may 2023. ISSN 2375-1924. Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/3855>. Date accessed: 26 apr. 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v11i5.3855.
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Issue
Vol 11 No 5 (2023): May Issue, Vol.11, Issue 5
Section
Research Articles

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